The time until treatment is a crucial factor for the outcome after medical emergencies. One way of reducing transportation time is the use of helicopter-based emergency medical services, but poor weather conditions, commitment to another mission, or technical problems may limit the availability. In these cases, military search and rescue (SAR) helicopters can be used. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of SAR helicopters in the civilian emergency medical system.
We conducted a retrospective study of SAR mission reports and SAR medical records collected from the archives of the Royal Danish Air Force for the years 2016 and 2017.
A total of 1,262 mission reports were included with a total of 628 medical records available in the study period. There were 490 of 1,246 (39.3%) missions involving patients. Interhospital transfers accounted for 306 of 604 (50.7%) of cases, whereas island evacuation constituted 110 of 604 (18.2%) cases. The most prevalent suspected diagnosis was acute coronary syndrome (14.4%). The 30-day survival rate was 87.6%.
The military SAR helicopters were most commonly activated for civilian emergency medical service mission assistance due to poor weather conditions. The most frequent medical condition was acute coronary syndrome.
The military SAR helicopters were most commonly activated for civilian emergency medical service mission assistance due to poor weather conditions. The most frequent medical condition was acute coronary syndrome.Simulation-based training has a significant effect in enhancing professionals' skills in the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) setting and is reported to be more effective than other learning strategies. The main objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a specific high-fidelity simulation (HFS) training course for HEMS nurses before entering into operational service.
This report describes the first Italian experience of a specifically designed HFS training program for HEMS nurses held in Bologna, Italy, in a dedicated scenario with a mock-up helicopter and an advanced mannequin.
A total of 14 nurses participated in the SAFE2019 (Simulazione ad Alta Fedeltà per l'Elisoccorso-High-Fidelity Simulation for HEMS) courses. The aspects considered most useful and effective were related to team working, communication issues, and nontechnical skills (NTS) development. Moreover, participants suggested implementing a series of scheduled HFS retraining sessions.
HFS in a dedicated HEMS scenario during the orientation period has contributed to enhanced technical competencies and NTS, increasing comfort and situational awareness for new entrant flight nurses. Simulation may represent a valuable resource to assess and maintain competencies through periodic retraining sessions for full HEMS teams or when new devices are adopted.
HFS in a dedicated HEMS scenario during the orientation period has contributed to enhanced technical competencies and NTS, increasing comfort and situational awareness for new entrant flight nurses. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/nps-2143.html Simulation may represent a valuable resource to assess and maintain competencies through periodic retraining sessions for full HEMS teams or when new devices are adopted.The purpose of this study was to analyze helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) transport with secondary land ambulance transfer, comparing landings performed inside and outside the hospital complex to the emergency department.
This was a cross-sectional observational study of HEMS transports of trauma patients between 2016 and 2018 in southern Brazil. Patients were attended by the HEMS team at the trauma site or stabilized in hospitals nearby and subsequently referred to trauma centers. In this region, no trauma centers have their own helipads so helicopters land in remote areas close to the hospital, which may be inside or outside the hospital complex. Both landings require ground emergency medical service transport, with off-site landings necessitating ground emergency medical service transport via public access roads to reach the hospital. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and on-site and off-site transport times were compared using a t-test for independent samples.
Of 176 transports, 28.5% resulted in on-site landings, whereas 71.5% occurred off-site. The ground transport time when the landing zone was off-site was 5 minutes longer than on-site (P &lt; .001).
Off-site landings result in longer transports to the emergency room. The construction of helipads in trauma centers can reduce transport time, in addition to reducing the costs and sequelae of trauma.
Off-site landings result in longer transports to the emergency room. The construction of helipads in trauma centers can reduce transport time, in addition to reducing the costs and sequelae of trauma.Critically unwell patients in rural and remote areas of Queensland, Australia, often require airway management with rapid sequence intubation before retrieval to a tertiary center. Retrieval Services Queensland coordinate retrievals and support rural hospitals, including via telehealth. This study compared the demographics of patients intubated by a retrieval team including a LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine doctor with those intubated by the local hospital team.
This was a retrospective cohort study of patients intubated in hospitals in Queensland, Australia, requiring subsequent air medical retrieval between January and December 2019. The data collected included the time of day, mission priority, geographic location, diagnosis, and failure/assistance with intubation. Descriptive statistics were complemented by regression analyses.
In 2019, 684 patients were intubated in hospitals in Queensland, Australia, requiring air medical retrieval by a team including a LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine doctor. One hundred thirty-one (19.2%) were intubated by the retrieval team, and 553 (80.8%) were intubated by the hospital team. In the most rural and remote areas, 64 (43.2%) of the patients were intubated by the retrieval team compared with 84 (56.8%) by the hospital team.
A retrieval team is more likely to intubate patients in remote hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Remote hospitals should be given preference for dispatch of the retrieval team for assistance with critical patients.
A retrieval team is more likely to intubate patients in remote hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Remote hospitals should be given preference for dispatch of the retrieval team for assistance with critical patients.